Birds of Steel

I had a chance to check out Konami's upcoming WWII dogfighting simulator at the Tokyo Game Show today, and producer Tak Fujii (Ninety-Nine Nights) ran me through several features of the game. In an interesting turn for a game based on history, he explained that Birds of Steel will allow players to experience both sides of each of the game's battles. If you'd like to take the Japanese side against Pearl Harbor or the German side against the English, it's entirely your decision.

He also demonstrated the various control methods of the game. Arcade mode will make your planes handle in a similar fashion to the jets in the Ace Combat series, which should be the control scheme of choice for newcomers and casual flight fans. Simulator mode will ramp up the realism by making the planes react to wind and mass, even going so far as to adjust the plane's speed based on how much fuel is onboard. Real mode will be for hardcore flight simulator fans, forcing players to escape stalls and spins, and even adjust for wind when you're aiming your gunfire.

In addition, Birds of Steel will feature 16-player online multiplayer when it releases early next year.